Taxonomic profilers and their influence on metagenomic diversity analyses www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... #jcampubs

Question: anyone struggle with Streptococcus pneumoniae growth in plasticware? Eliminated almost every other variable and it's lovely in glass but terrible in polystyrene plates. Anyone observed, got a mechanism or a fix? Driving us potty!

Chatted to Dr Sheena Fraser about the respiratory microbiome for the Microbiome Medics podcast recently, available here podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b... and here microbiomemedics.captivate.fm/listen for other flavours of listening.

Beyond the Gut: The Surprising Science of Respiratory Microbes with Dr. Michael Cox

Podcast Episode · Microbiome Medics · 13 May · 1hr 1min

podcasts.apple.com

My super department @warwicklifesci.bsky.social is hiring 6 assistant profs in the wake of recent retirements. We're looking for people in microbiology/infection, cellular disease / immunity; environmental biology; and plant/crop science. #MicroSky warwick-careers.tal.net/vx/lang-en-G...

Livestream of peregrine falcons nesting at the top of Old Joe @unibirmingham.bsky.social launches www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/wa...

Livestream of peregrine falcons nesting at top of Old Joe - University of Birmingham

A livestream will show the nesting pair of peregrine falcons who have made their home at the University of Birmingham campus.

birmingham.ac.uk

Pride in STEM is 10 this month, and we are so proud to celebrate these 10 change-makers who were proposed and voted in by the community. Read about their work, their impact, and their commitment to improving the lives of LGBTQIA+ people in STEM and beyond, here: prideinstem.org/2026/04/01/t...

Here we go then, lab website at last! Still some gaps to fill and I've definitely not caught all the broken links yet but here we are. www.lungmicrobiome.org Hellow world!

Respiratory Microbiome Group — University of Birmingham

Investigating the role of microbial communities in respiratory health and disease.

lungmicrobiome.org

Help me out #MicroSky - what are your favourite microbial/viral genetics practical classes for undergraduates that can be run across just two sessions?

New pre-print from the group with our immunology friends! @kylie.belchamber.com led this study of frailty in older people. Our contribution was looking at the respiratory microbiome in younger, healthy older people and frail older people. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Incredible time at #AIR2026 covering breadth of respiratory infection, microbiomes and immunology with some really beautiful biology. Thanks to fellow committee members @resp-micro.bsky.social @drclairesmith.bsky.social @ewanharrison.bsky.social , Alex Kayongo and organisers @eventswcs.bsky.social

Very much looking forward to 2 days of great talks at #MMEG2025, and to catching up with @resp-micro.bsky.social and @jamesemcdonald.bsky.social.

Applied Microbiology International@amiposts.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Last chance to register! #MMEG2025 is just two weeks away, and we’re shining a spotlight on two unmissable panel sessions at the event.

Work on respiratory immunology or microbes? Interested in big data, omics or the latest in vitro models?... Treat your lab to a christmas present of AIR 2026 registration! Feb 11th-13th, registration closing soon: coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...

Really pleased to say we're able to advertise a fully funded PhD studentship supported by the MRC AIM DTP. Smoke and Microbes! Impact of Smoking, Vaping and Pollution on the Respiratory Microbiome www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Smoke and Microbes: impact of smoking, vaping and pollution on the respiratory microbiome at University of Birmingham on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Smoke and Microbes: impact of smoking, vaping and pollution on the respiratory microbiome at University of Birmingham, listed on FindAPhD.com

findaphd.com

Last chance to register! #MMEG2025 is just two weeks away, and we’re shining a spotlight on two unmissable panel sessions at the event.

Abstract deadline for this meeting is Monday - still time to pull one together! Great mix of speakers covering the interface between immunology, infection and omics in respiratory disease.

Wellcome Connecting Science Learning and Training@eventswcs.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Ready to showcase your respiratory infection and genomics research? Submit your abstract for #AIR2026 ✍ Demonstrate the application of #genomics technologies in respiratory biology, and gain feedback from leaders 🫁 🗓️ Dates: 11-13 February ⏰ Abstract deadline: 17 November 📎 bit.ly/46T6uJB

Globally, supervisor time, manageable workloads, and early‑stage optimism correlate most with satisfaction, while long hours consistently reduce it. What has made the biggest difference for your #PhD experience? Link to the Nature article:

Are these the happiest PhD students in the world?

Brazil, Australia and Italy have the highest satisfaction scores in Nature’s global 2025 PhD survey — but are these nations really the best places to do a doctorate?

nature.com

We have a number of fully funded PhD opportunities supported by the MIBTP DTP in the Department of Microbes, Infection and Microbiomes in the University of Birmingham. Topics from gut, vaginal and nasal microbiomes to AMR, Staph aureus and HPV in tonsils www.birmingham.ac.uk/about/colleg...

Thank you to everyone who has joined, backed us, and participated. Your impact goes beyond a hashtag; it's a lasting legacy. To keep #BlackInMicro alive, Donate: tinyurl.com/GiveBiM and Register to attend: linktr.ee/BlackInMicro (see links in bio) #BiMWeek2025

New respiratory 🫁 infection and microbiomes conference in Hinxton with stellar line up of speakers. 🚨 Submit your abstracts now! 🚨 Please RT coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/event/air-20...

Published today! 'The Kocurious case of Noodlococcus: genomic insights into Kocuria rhizophila from characterisation of a laboratory contaminant' A labour of love in the group, led by @gemccallum.bsky.social @biostan.bsky.social @prob91.bsky.social www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/jour...

The Kocurious case of Noodlococcus: genomic insights into Kocuria rhizophila from characterisation of a laboratory contaminant

The laboratory contaminant strain Noodlococcus was named for its coccoid cells and unusual colony morphology, which resembled a pile of noodles. Along with laboratory characterisation and electron mic...

microbiologyresearch.org

We are looking for a senior technician (can undertake PhD) at Uni of Birmingham (UK) to study chromatin replication and ubiquitylation using Xenopus egg extract. Deadline 28/10/25. Get in touch with me or @m-saponaro.bsky.social for informal inquiries. Please share. www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOW912/s...

Senior Research Technician at University of Birmingham

Explore an exciting academic career as a Senior Research Technician. Don't miss out on other academic jobs. Click to apply and explore more opportunities.

jobs.ac.uk

Really pleased to be involved with this study, we're going to lend our respiratory microbiome expertise to see what the impact of vaping is like. With smoking, the respiratory microbiome is already altered _before_ some people develop COPD - the dysbiosis has already happened.

UK Research and Innovation@ukri.org · 10mo ago

A first-of-its-kind project supported by MRC and led by @unibirmingham.bsky.social will study the long-term impact of vaping on lung health. Researchers will examine the biological effects of vaping on lung cells, immune cells, and the airway microbiome. More: www.ukri.org/news/first-o...

Job opportunity in my lab! We're looking for a post-doc to come join us for an exciting project exploring the evolution of #AMR and #hypervirulence in #klebsiella. Please share!! @unibirmingham.bsky.social Details: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOV067/r...

Research Fellow at University of Birmingham

Apply now for the Research Fellow role on jobs.ac.uk - the leading job board for higher education jobs. View details.

jobs.ac.uk

Early notice of NEW Wellcome Conference - AIR 2026: Genomic and Systems Approaches to Respiratory Infection, Microbiomes and Immunity 11th-13th February, sign up below for notifications coursesandconferences.wellcomeconnectingscience.org/our-events/c... It's immunulogy AND it's microbiology 🫁

Congratulations to Dr Sandhu!! Our first PhD student @resp-micro.bsky.social Operation Rainbow Unicorn is complete!! Thanks to examiners Karl Staples and Amanda Rossiter 🦄

Fabulous Brum Pride parade with the also fabulous @resp-micro.bsky.social #microsky 🧪🧫🏳️‍🌈

Why should microbiologists working on #CysticFibrosis study Haemophilus influenzae? @phoebesilva.bsky.social explains all for @amiposts.bsky.social www.the-microbiologist.com/features/the... #MicroSky

​The rise of the early cystic fibrosis lung coloniser, Haemophilus influenzae

With the increasing availability of modulator therapies for people with cystic fibrosis, end-stage infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa is becoming less common. But are we going to see a rise in the ...

the-microbiologist.com

We have a funded PhD opportunity to start this year for an exciting collaborative project with UKHSA as part of the Health Protection Research Unit in Public Health Genomics www.findaphd.com/phds/project... The question is "how do we use metagenomic data for the best clinical outcomes?"

Integrating metagenomics into respiratory clinical healthcare pathways – forest, trees, needles and haystacks in metagenomic data. at University of Birmingham on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Integrating metagenomics into respiratory clinical healthcare pathways – forest, trees, needles and haystacks in metagenomic data. at University of Birmingham, listed on FindAPhD.c...

findaphd.com

We will be taking part in Birmingham Pride again this year and joining the march amongst university colleagues. My personal feeling is representation is more important than ever and that my aim is for this research group to be safe for all LGBTQIA+ people 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

Got family sending me this, which is a good sign that it's been picked up generally! gizmodo.com/scientists-u... it demonstrates how powerful electronic health records are doi.org/10.1093/infd... the link isn't new however, amongst others ISAAC showed this in 2004 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15020566/

Scientists Uncover Unexpected Link to Childhood Asthma

In a study of over one million kids, researchers found that early antibiotic use was linked to higher rates of asthma.

gizmodo.com